Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a polite greeting; Jesus instructs them to declare "Peace be to this house!" as a first act, signifying that their primary mission is to bring God's blessing, even before confronting or reproving. This preemptive blessing is meant to be a tangible spiritual reality that will either settle on the household or return to the disciples if they are rejected.
Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just commissioned seventy additional disciples, sending them out in pairs ahead of Him to prepare towns for His arrival. He instructs them to act with urgency, carrying no extra supplies, and to begin their ministry by offering a blessing of peace to every home they enter, a traditional Jewish greeting imbued with spiritual significance.
Imagine walking into a home and, before anything else, speaking a word of blessing over it. This wasn't just polite; it was a powerful, spiritual act.
Jesus instructs His disciples to "first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’" (Luke 10:5). This wasn't a casual greeting but a deliberate declaration. In Jewish culture, peace (shalom) meant far more than just the absence of conflict. It encompassed well-being, wholeness, security, and prosperity – the fullness of God's blessing.
By declaring peace first, the disciples were acting as God's agents, bringing His intended blessing into a home before even sharing the core message of the Kingdom. It was a way of consecrating the space and the people within it, setting the stage for receptivity to the Gospel.
Before healing the sick or proclaiming the Kingdom, Jesus wanted His messengers to pray for the salvation and well-being of those they encountered.
The instruction to declare peace first serves as a crucial prerequisite for the disciples' mission. As Bengel notes, the messenger of God should begin by praying for the salvation of people.
This wasn't just about what they said, but how they began. It established their motive: not to condemn, but to bless. It also prepared the ground. If the household was receptive ('a son of peace'), the blessing would remain. If not, their own peace would return to them, meaning they had fulfilled their duty and were not held responsible for the rejection.
Understand the original words
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eirēnē · Greek Noun
A Hebrew concept (Shalom) extending beyond mere absence of conflict; it represents wholeness, prosperity, harmony, and well-being in a right relationship with God.
huios eirēnēs · Greek Noun Phrase
A person characterized by a state of peace, receptivity, or being in a right relationship with God, particularly one who is open to the message of the Gospel.
eirēnē · Greek Noun
A Hebrew concept (shalom) encompassing not just the absence of conflict, but total well-being, prosperity, harmony, and reconciliation with God and others. In the New Testament, it is the blessing of salvation brought by Christ.
This passage shows that 'peace' was a common and meaningful salutation in ancient Near Eastern culture, highlighting that Jesus was using a culturally understood way to convey a profound spiritual blessing.
Matthew 10:12-13This parallel account in Matthew provides the same instruction to Jesus' disciples, reinforcing the importance and expected outcome of offering peace upon entering a home.
1 Kings 4:29The wisdom granted to Solomon, as described here, often included understanding and speaking words of peace and prosperity, aligning with the disciples' mission to bring a message of peace.
Isaiah 52:7This prophetic verse speaks of the beautiful feet of those who bring good news and proclaim peace, connecting the disciples' mission to a broader message of salvation and divine well-being.
2 Kings 4:29Elisha's instruction to his servant not to be delayed by greetings on the way emphasizes the urgency of a mission, similar to how Jesus' disciples were to prioritize their spiritual greeting of peace.
vincentLuke 10:5: "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house."
Peace to this houseThe usual oriental salutation. See Judges 19:20.
clarkeLuke 10:5: "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house."
Peace be to this house - See on Matthew 10:12 (note).
This isn't just a polite greeting; Jesus instructs them to declare "Peace be to this house!" as a first act, signifying that their primary mission is to bring God's blessing, even before confronting or reproving. This preemptive blessing is meant to be a tangible spiritual reality that will either settle on the household or return to the disciples if they are rejected.
Jesus has just commissioned seventy additional disciples, sending them out in pairs ahead of Him to prepare towns for His arrival. He instructs them to act with urgency, carrying no extra supplies, and to begin their ministry by offering a blessing of peace to every home they enter, a traditional Jewish greeting imbued with spiritual significance.
Jesus has just commissioned seventy additional disciples, sending them out in pairs ahead of Him to prepare towns for His arrival. He instructs them to act with urgency, carrying no extra supplies, and to begin their ministry by offering a blessing of peace to every home they enter, a traditional Jewish greeting imbued with spiritual significance.
"Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you." — This isn't just a polite greeting; Jesus instructs them to declare "Peace be to this house!" as a first act, signifying that their primary mission is to bring God's blessing, even before confrontin…
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Last reviewed October 2026